The Three

What The Three does

The Three operates under the HIRUAK brand, an artisanal charcuterie and butcher producer founded in 1973 in Anglet, in the French Basque Country. From a 2,000 m² production site employing approximately 30 people, the company manufactures traditional regional charcuterie including sausages (chipolatas, Toulouse, merguez), brochettes, crépinettes, and festive/seasonal ranges such as summer BBQ and winter holiday lines. Production carries IFS food-safety certification and Basque regional IGP positioning, with the HIRUAK identity explicitly anchoring the brand to local cultural heritage rather than mass-market commodity positioning.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of SUDAGRO, a multi-brand charcuterie holding group that also controls Maison Baïona and related regional brands. Commercial go-to-market is wholesale B2B: products are distributed nationwide through French mass-market retailers (Auchan, Carrefour, E.Leclerc, Intermarché) and through independent butcher shops and foodservice channels, with no direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation disclosed. PME+ certification and a completed RSE Diagnostic 3D assessment form the responsible-sourcing credentials used in retailer negotiations.

Revenue mechanics are typical of French artisanal charcuterie: volume-based wholesale supply into retailer category ranges, with margin influenced by raw pork pricing, seasonal SKU mix (festive/BBQ lines commanding premium pricing), and certification-driven shelf placement. The 2015 strategic exit from the offal business refocused the portfolio on higher-value specialty charcuterie, while group-level procurement and logistics through SUDAGRO provide scale efficiencies in a fragmented artisanal category.

Name

The Three

Legal name

SAS HIRUAK

Website

https://hiruak.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Three (HIRUAK) is an artisanal Basque charcuterie producer founded in 1973 in Anglet, France, manufacturing traditional sausages, brochettes, and seasonal meat specialties for distribution through French mass-market retailers and independent butcher shops nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Charcuterie

NAICS

Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Regional Processed Meats (Ethnic/Traditional Sausages, Regional Cures) (AFANAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fermented & Air-Dried Charcuterie (Salami, Pepperoni, Prosciutto-Style) (AFANAEAE)

Keywords

• Artisanal charcuterie production
• Basque butcher products
• Cooked and dried charcuterie
• Regional meat products France
• Sausages and brochettes

Headquarters

HQ city

Anglet

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Food Products Sales: Revenue generated through sale of artisanal butcher and charcuterie products (cooked charcuterie, raw charcuterie, dry charcuterie, and prepared dishes) to consumers via retail distribution partners including hypermarkets, supermarkets, and local shops throughout France.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Three (HIRUAK) manufactures and markets artisanal Basque butcher and charcuterie products at its 2,000 m² production facility in Anglet, Pays Basque. The portfolio spans three seasonal ranges — Gamme Permanente (year-round cooked, raw, and dried charcuterie), Gamme Été (summer sausages, brochettes, and marinated meats for BBQ/plancha), and Gamme Hiver (winter festive crépinettes and seasonal specialties) — together with ready-to-cook Basque prepared dishes, all produced using traditional regional recipes and IGP-certified South-West pork. Products are sold under the registered HIRUAK brand through French grande distribution retailers and local shops, supported by IFS food-safety certification and the PME+ sustainability label.

Product overview

HIRUAK is a Basque butchery and charcuterie company organized around three seasonal product lines: Gamme Permanente (year-round offerings including cooked, raw, and dried charcuterie), Gamme Été (summer products like sausages, brochettes, and marinated meats for grilling), and Gamme Hiver (winter festive crépinettes). The product portfolio includes traditional Basque charcuterie, IGP-certified pork from the Sud-Ouest region, ready-to-cook prepared dishes, and marinated meats. Products are distributed primarily through large-scale retail partners across France. Founded in 1973 and part of the SUDAGRO regional brands group since 2015, HIRUAK employs approximately 30 people at its Anglet production facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gamme Permanente

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ECOCERT EnvironnementminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent auditor contracted annually by FEEF to conduct audits for the PME+ label certification. HIRUAK undergoes annual audit to maintain its PME+ sustainability certification.
• BaïonademinorOthersRegional vegetable product brand from SUDAGRO group offering Basque vegetables. HIRUAK recommends complementary use with their meat products to enhance consumer recipes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Aoste: Leading French charcuterie brand (subsidiary of Aoste-Sicopa) offering traditional saucissons, jambons, and snacks. Broad incumbent in the same category, competing for the same hypermarket shelf space as HIRUAK.
• Fleury Michon: Major French charcuterie and traiteur brand with national presence in supermarkets. Broad incumbent offering overlapping cooked charcuterie and prepared meals categories, competing for shelf space with HIRUAK.
• Loste: Established French charcuterie and ready-meal manufacturer with national distribution. Larger incumbent offering overlapping charcuterie categories (saucissons, jambons, plats cuisinés) through major French retailers.

Emerging players

• Brocéliande: French charcuterie producer specializing in quality pork-based products (saucissons, pâtés, plats cuisinés). Comparable regional-france charcuterie player with similar retail distribution model and product portfolio overlap.
• André Bazin: French charcuterie producer with regional roots (Franche-Comté), offering traditional saucissons, jambons, and terrines. Comparable as a regional French charcuterie brand distributed through specialty and retail channels.

Direct peers

• Pédelhez: SUDAGRO group sister brand specializing in regional French charcuterie. Direct portfolio peer, sharing the regional brand strategy and major retailer distribution with HIRUAK.
• Mainjolle: SUDAGRO group sister brand focused on regional cooked meats and charcuterie. Portfolio peer under the same holding, targeting similar retail customers and regional authenticity positioning.
• Pierre Oteiza: Artisanal Basque charcuterie producer based in the French Pays Basque, specializing in Kintoa AOP pork and traditional charcuterie (saucisson, chorizo, boudin). Direct regional competitor to HIRUAK in the same niche of authentic Basque meat products.
• Salaisons de Saint Sauveur: Sister brand within the SUDAGRO group, also producing regional charcuterie products. Direct portfolio peer within the same holding structure, sharing distribution and strategic resources with HIRUAK.
• Maison Arostéguy: Historic Basque food specialities house in the Pays Basque, offering regional charcuterie, foie gras, and Basque culinary products. Comparable regional Basque food brand with similar heritage positioning to HIRUAK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Hiruak64
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hiruak

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Three